In the NFL’s most competitive division, every win counts. Though the Packers currently lead the NFC North, any team could come out on top. The Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions haven’t been perfect so far, but they have shown that they are capable of beating any team if things go their way.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is streaky, but there’s no denying that when he is on, this is one of the best offenses in the league. Minnesota made short work of the Eagles last week as Stefon Diggs scored three touchdowns. The week before that, Dalvin Cook’s running carried the team as he gashed the Giants for 132 yards.
The Vikings defense has been overshadowed by the Bears and Packers early in the season, but they are actually sixth in defensive DVOA, with Danielle Hunter in the top 10 sack leaders league-wide. Linebacker Eric Kendricks is also starting out the season very well, with impressive tackling week in and week out.
Detroit has been more consistent on offense than the Vikings and have had weeks where they’ve looked equally impressive. Matt Stafford is always productive, and he has limited his tendency to turn the ball so far this season. Kenny Golladay has been great at receiver, and Kerryon Johnson has emerged as a dominant back.
Beyond these two key players, however, the Lions are a little shallow on offense. But if this core has a monster day, they could win pretty much any game.
Though the Lions defense hasn’t been so impressive. Detroit hasn’t been able to generate much of a pass rush, and the linebackers are a real weak spot. However, the secondary has played well, keeping them in games.
This is a tough game to call because both teams have strong offenses. While the Lions have been more consistent on that side of the ball, the Vikings have a better all-around defense.
If the Vikings play like they have recently, we give them the edge here. But if Cousins falls apart, look for the Lions to capitalize.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
- When: Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1pm ET
- Where: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
- Streaming: Fox, NFL Sunday Ticket
There are a number of options for watching Vikings vs. Lions on streaming platforms that carry FOX. However, consult a coverage map to see what game your regional channel will be playing.
If a game is not being carried in your area, the only option might be an NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions live stream: How to watch NFL online
1) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99 per month
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
If you’re a big-time sports fan, FuboTV is your best streaming service option. If you love international soccer and you’re a Spanish speaker, FuboTV also offers various add-on packages, including Fubo Latino and Fubo Português. FuboTV’s basic plan showcases nearly 100 channels and includes NFL Network. At $54.99 per month, you’ll also get FS1, FS2, NBCSN, NBA TV, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, BeIn Sports, and CBS Sports Network, along with premium channels like FX/FXX/FXM. The only notable omission for sports fans is ESPN. You can add Fubo’s Sports Plus package for an additional $8.99 per month, which allows you to stream NFL RedZone, (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $44.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
3) AirTV
AirTV solves one of Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV, (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “it’s practically magic.” While select football games are no longer on Sling after its contract impasse with Fox—which for now means no Fox, FS1, or FS2 via Sling—you can still catch the Fox telecasts with AirTV.
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue. All those services have plenty of local channels.
While select NFL and college football games (on Fox, FS1, and FS2) are no longer on Sling, you can still catch Fox games with AirTV.
4) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month
- PlayStation Vue devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- PlayStation Vue local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
If you’d like to watch live NFL games directly from your PS4, PlayStation Vue is your best bet. PlayStation also works with streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Fire products, but what separates PlayStation from the rest of the streaming services is that it’s also compatible with Kodi. No matter how you stream, you’ll get to choose from four tiers of channels—all but the cheapest include NFL Network. From there, you can also add NFL RedZone as part of the $10-per-month Sports Pack, which also unlocks ESPN Bases Loaded, ESPN Classic, Longhorn Network, Outside TV, and NBCUniversal regional sports networks. You can see the full list of PlayStation Vue channels here. Two other great perks: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and there’s also unlimited cloud DVR.
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPN and FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
6) NFL Sunday Ticket
Cost: $73.99 per month for four months, or one single payment of $293.96
There are two—and only two—ways of acquiring NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV. There’s NFLSundayTicket.TV, which costs $73.99 per month for four months. It’s everything you love NFL Sunday Ticket but online-only. You can stream from pretty much any device that connects to the internet (but only on one device at a time).
You can also upgrade to the NFLST.TV Max bundle for a total of $99 per month for four months or one single payment of $395.99. You can also add on NFL Game Pass, which allows you to watch replays of every game after they air, for $50 for the full season.
There’s another way to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV: Amazon Prime. While you can’t pay for the package using Amazon Prime, you can at least watch all of the games on the service. To start, first download the NFL Sunday Ticket channel on Amazon Prime. It’s free. From there, you’ll just need to sign in with your subscription credentials.
College students can purchase NFL Sunday Ticket at a discounted price through NFLSundayTicket.TV U.
TRY NFL SUNDAY TICKET ON AMAZON PRIME
Fantasy football: Who should I start?
Vikings
Dalvin Cook, running back: The receivers have been the talk of this team recently and for good reason. But against a soft run defense and a good secondary, look for the game plan to feature Cook here. He should have another nice day.
Lions
Kenny Golladay, wide receiver: Even if the Vikings’ pass rush rattles Matt Stafford, he will probably find a way to connect with Golladay. The No. 1 receiving option in Detroit has gotten yardage against good defenses before, and he probably is a fine bet here as well.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions: Why it matters
This is one of the most meaningful games of the week because it has real consequences for both teams. The Vikings and the Lions have both had some tough losses to division rivals, and another big L could make playoff tie-breakers a real frustration for either squad.
Though the Lions are technically last in the NFC North right now, there isn’t much separating them from first place. Until one of these teams gets real distance from the pack, every division game could have real implications.
In short, this game looks like a toss-up. But if the Vikings offense is firing on all cylinders, they should be able to extend their recent winning streak. However, the surprising consistency of the Lions has impressed before, and they could certainly come away with another win here.
READ MORE:
- How to watch NFL RedZone without cable
- How to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without a DirecTV satellite
- How to watch NFL Network online (without cable)
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